New Zealand’s tourism sector is continuing its strong recovery, with international visitor numbers in February 2026 coming close to pre-pandemic levels.
According to Stats NZ, the country recorded 408,100 overseas visitors in February, an increase of 53,700 compared to the same month last year. This brings total arrivals to about 98% of February 2019 levels, showing that the tourism industry is almost fully back.
One of the biggest drivers of this growth was China. Visitor numbers from China rose significantly, increasing by 41,700 compared to February 2025.
The rise was partly due to the timing of Chinese New Year, which fell in February this year. China is now one of the top sources of visitors to New Zealand again.
Australia remained the largest source of visitors, making up 31% of total arrivals. Other key markets included the United States, the United Kingdom, and Taiwan.
While international arrivals increased, the number of New Zealand residents returning from overseas fell slightly. There were 189,900 resident arrivals in February, down by 17,400 from a year earlier. Even so, this figure is still close to pre-COVID levels.
Travel activity across the country is now almost back to normal. Total border crossings reached 1.18 million in February, which is about 99% of what was recorded before the pandemic.
On an annual basis, international visitor arrivals also continued to grow, reaching 3.58 million for the year ending February 2026, up by 229,000 from the previous year.
Another notable shift is the growing use of digital tools. Around 70% of travellers used the digital arrival card system.
Overall, the latest data shows that New Zealand’s tourism industry has made a strong comeback. While there are still small gaps compared to pre-pandemic levels, the steady increase in visitor numbers suggests that the sector is on track for a full recovery.
Shahriena Shukri is a journalist covering business and economic news in Malaysia, providing insights on market trends, corporate developments, and financial policies. More about Shahriena Shukri
